Person familiar with talks says Lakers assistant Jordan and Rutgers still working on deal

While Eddie Jordan and Rutgers worked to make him the head of the university's scandal-marred basketball program, there was more bad news for the Scarlet Knights.

A person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the parties were hoping to get a contract agreement for the 58-year-old Jordan by the end of the week. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been finalized despite two days of talks over the weekend.

Jordan, an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers and Rutgers' career assists leader, was in California on Tuesday, helping the NBA team prepare for its regular-season finale. If the Lakers win, they will make the playoffs.

Lonnie Cooper, Jordan's agent, did not return a telephone call left by The Associated Press seeking an update on the talks. Rutgers spokesman Jason Baum had no update on the talks to replace Mike Rice, who was fired two weeks ago after a video was released that showed him kicking and grabbing players while uttering anti-gay slurs at them in practice over the past 2½ seasons.